Echinacea plant named ‘Balsomsed’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Echinacea  plant named ‘Balsomsed’, characterized by its single-type, deep red-orange colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Echinacea×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balsomsed’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofEchinacea plant botanically known as Echinacea×hybrida and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Balsomsed’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn,Ill. during September 2007. The objective of the breeding program wasthe development of Echinacea cultivars with a single inflorescence formhaving imbricate ray florets and a well-branched, compact growth habit.

The new Echinacea×hybrida cultivar is the result of cross-pollination.The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietaryEchinacea×hybrida breeding selection designated ‘E33-5’, U.S. Pat. No.7,982,110, characterized by its single-type, red-orange colored flowers,medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growthhabit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is from a bulkpollen mix of seven proprietary Echinacea×hybrida breeding selectionsdesignated ‘E33-1’ through ‘E33-7’, U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110,characterized by their single-type, shades of red-orange coloredinflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous,upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as asingle flowering plant within the progeny of the above statedcross-pollination during October 2008 in a controlled environment inElburn, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by in vitro propagation sinceOctober 2008 in West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the newcultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, asherein described, firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balsomsed’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Echinacea plant:

-   -   1. Single-type, deep red-orange colored inflorescences;    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female and maleparents primarily in inflorescence color and growth habit. The newvariety is more compact and has a different red-orange inflorescencecolor shade than the parent plants.

Of the many commercially available Echinacea cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is Echinacea ‘Tomato Soup’, U.S. PlantPat. No. 19,427. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivardiffer from plants of ‘Tomato Soup’ in at least the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have shorter ray florets than        plants of ‘Tomato Soup’; and    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar are more compact, as measured by        plant height, than plants of ‘Tomato Soup’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalinflorescence and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors inthe photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed description, which accurately describes the colors of‘Balsomsed’. One plant per 1 gallon container was grown for 16 weeks ina greenhouse in Elburn, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balsomsed’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of‘Balsomsed’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in June 2011 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom in vitro plantlets and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse underconditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plantswere grown in Elburn, Ill. in 1-gallon pots for 16 weeks utilizing asoilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained atapproximately 45° F. to 65° F. (7.2° C. to 18.3° C.) during the day andapproximately 35° F. to 45° F. (1.7° C. to 7.2° C.) during the night. Nosupplemental lighting was provided. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Echinacea×hybrida cultivar Balsomsed.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Echinacea×hybrida breeding            selection designated ‘E33-5’, U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110.        -   Male parent.—Bulk pollen mix of seven proprietary            Echinacea×hybrida breeding selections designated ‘E33-1’            through ‘E33-7’, U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—In vitro propagation is preferred, divisions are            possible.        -   Time to initiate roots in vitro.—Approximately 30 days at            18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet in summer.—Approximately            30 days at 18° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; grey to light brown in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate density, moderate branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 16 weeks from a rooted            tissue culture plantlet to finish in a 1 gallon container.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Compact-upright, narrow            inverted triangle, herbaceous perennial.        -   Growth rate.—Moderately vigorous.        -   Outdoor plant performance.—Use as bedding plants or in            mixed-container plantings; at least tolerant to temperatures            up to 35° C. and hardy to USDA zone 4.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 41.8 cm. Width: Approximately 36.7 cm.        -   Branching habit.—No lateral branching, flowering stems grow            from base. Quantity of main stems per plant: Approximately            5.        -   Stems.—Strength: Very strong. Aspect: Nearly erect. Shape:            Rounded. Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately            23.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm. Length of central            internode: Approximately 3.3 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent            with short strigose hairs. Color of young and mature stems:            144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Form: Simple. Arrangement: Alternate.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem, subtending with age.            Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate. Margin: Entire, widely            serrate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern:            Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 9.5 cm. Width            of mature leaf: Approximately 3.8 cm. Texture of upper            surface: Slightly glossy, moderately pubescent with short            strigose hairs. Texture of lower surface: Moderately            pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color of upper surface            of young foliage: Closest 137A with venation of 147C. Color            of lower surface of young foliage: 137B to 137C with            venation of 147C. Color of upper surface of mature foliage:            Darker than 137A with venation of 147C. Color of lower            surface of mature foliage: Closest to 138A with venation of            147C.        -   Petiole.—Shape: V-shaped. Length: Approximately 6.7 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of upper surface:            Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Glossy, sparsely covered            with very short strigose hairs. Color of upper and lower            surfaces: 147C.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balsomsed’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions blooming from spring through            autumn and with limited flowering under short winter days in            a greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the            plant.—Approximately 3 weeks.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Solitary, composite. Persistent.            Shape: Conical. Aspect: Facing upward. Arrangement:            Terminal, held upright on strong peduncles. Fragrance:            Faintly sweet. Quantity per plant: Approximately 8. Height:            Approximately 3.8 cm. Diameter: Approximately 7.5 cm.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to approximately            45° from vertical. Length: Approximately 15.5 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture: Moderately pubescent with            short strigose hairs. Color: 144A, with streaks of N186C.        -   Bud.—Quantity per plant: Approximately 2. Shape: Flattened            globular with immature ray florets nearly erect. Length:            Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.5 cm. Color:            Outer ray florets of 145C flushed with 44D and with a bud            center of 143A.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 25.            Arrangement: Slightly imbricate in a single whorl. Aspect:            Perpendicular to disc, subtending with age. Shape: Narrowly            elliptic to narrowly obovate. Appearance: Dull. Margin:            Entire. Apex: Three acute tips. Base: Attenuate. Length:            Approximately 3.6 cm. Width: Approximately 1.2 cm. Texture            of upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, ribbed longitudinally.            Color of upper surface when first open: 45A. Color of lower            surface when first open: 36C with an overlay of 60C and 145C            near apex. Color of upper surface when fully open: 45B.            Color of lower surface when fully open: 36C with an overlay            of 60D and 145C near apex.        -   Disc florets.—Disc diameter: Approximately 3.5 cm. Quantity            per inflorescence: Approximately 300. Arrangement: Spirally            arranged in center of inflorescence. Shape: Tubular. Margin            of free portion: Entire. Apex: Five acute tips. Base: Fused            into a tube. Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of upper or            inner surface when first and fully open: 144B with tips of            187C. Color of lower or outer surface when first and fully            open: 144A to 144B with tips of 187C and base of 145D.        -   Receptacle.—Shape: Conical. Height: Approximately 1.5 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 1.4 cm. Color: 155D.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 65.            Arrangement: In three whorls. Appearance: Dull, stiff.            Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate, strongly curved towards            the peduncle. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate.            Length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Width: Approximately 3.0 mm.            Texture of upper or inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of            lower or outer surface: Glabrous with margins moderately to            densely pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color of upper            surface: 137A. Color of lower surface: 137B.        -   Receptacle spines.—Number of spines per disc:            Approximately 300. Shape: Acicular. Length: Approximately            1.1 cm. Width at widest point: Approximately 2.0 mm. Apex:            Acute. Base: Attenuate. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Apex of            187B transitioning through 163A to a mid-section of 144A and            base of 145D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Stamen quantity: 5 per floret. Anther shape: Oblong,            basifixed. Anther length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther            color: Blackened 200A. Filament length: Approximately            2.0 mm. Filament color: 145D. Pollen amount: Moderate to            abundant. Pollen color: 12A. Gynoecium: Present on disc            florets only. Pistil quantity: 1 per floret. Pistil length:            Approximately 1.0 cm. Stigma shape: Decurrent. Stigma color:            187C. Style length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Style color: 145C.            Ovary color: 145D.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: No particular resistance or    susceptibility to other diseases or insects noted to date.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant named ‘Balsomsed’,substantially as herein shown and described.